Device for facilitating the reopening of an ice fishing hole



July 16, 1957 w. E. MEAGHER 2,799

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE REOPENING OF AN ICE FISHING HOLE Filed June13, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

Wm Z/Vea gkr United Stags. limi O.

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE REOPENING I on AN ICE FISHING HOLE WilliamE. Meagher, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 13, 1956,.Serial No.591,043

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-110) My invention relates to ice fishing gear, andmore particularly to apparatus for facilitating the reopening of an icefishing hole-after initial opening thereof and subsequent refreezing.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass described which comprises a frusto-conical tubular boot which maybe inserted into an opening in the ice and supported from the icesurrounding said opening, and which is provided with means for removingthe plug of ice which thereafter forms within the boot due to freezing,without actually removing the boot from the hole.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass immediately above described wherein the boot comprises a pair oftelescoping sections which are movable to their extended positions wheninserted into an opening in the ice and which may be retracted forpurposes of storage, transportation and the like.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass generally above described which is relatively inexpensive toproduce, which is rugged and durable, and which is positive in itsoperation.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed specification, appended claims and attacheddrawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical axial section and partly in sideelevation showing my novel device in operation, some parts being brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section of a portionof the structure of Fig. 1, showing a slight modification thereof.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1indicates in its entirety a tubular boot comprising a pair ofcooperating frusto-conical boot sections, the upper one of which isidentified by the numeral 2 and the lower one by the numeral 3. Bootsections 2 and 3 may be extended to their operative position of Fig. 1,or retracted to substantially the height of one thereof for the purposeof storage or transportation. As shown in Fig. 1, boot 1 is adapted tobe inserted into an opening A in the ice B and to be supported from theice B surrounding the opening A by means of a plurality of radiallyprojecting circumferentially spaced supporting arms 4 which are adjacentthe open upper end of the boot 1. It will be noted that the combinedlengths of the sections 2 and 3 is always greater than the thickness ofthe ice B in conjunction with which the boot 1 is adapted to be used,whereby the lower end 5 thereof extends below the level of the bottomsurface 6 of the ice B. Note also, that the beaded upper end portion 7of the boot 1 projects above the level of the upper surface 7 of the iceB when the supporting legs 4 are resting thereon.

"ice

' The crosshead 8, preferably and as shown, is rectangu lar and tubularin shape and formed from any suitable strong metal; and is adapted toextend across and be supported by the open upper end 7 of the boot 1 asshown in Fig. 2. At its intermediate portion, the crosshead 8 isprovided with an aperture 9 through which loosely extends the upper endof a jack shaft 10. Note that the jack shaft 10 in operative position,extends axially of the boot 1 and has an enlarged head 11 at its upperend, above the level of the crosshead 8, which limits downward movementof the jack shaft 10 with respect to the crosshead 8. Projectinglaterally outwardly from opposite sides of the head 11 are trunnions 12.Trunnions 12 overlie the upper surface 13 of the crosshead 8 in spacedrelationship thereto. Jack means for said jack shaft 10 comprises abifurcated hook-shaped cam lifter 14 which is provided with'a handle 15.The cam lifter 14 comprises a pair of laterally spaced hook-acting forks16 which define openings 17.

Below the level of the supporting arms 4, and above the level of thelower end portion 5 of the boot 1, the jack shaft 10 is provided with aplurality of disc-like lifting plates 18, the function of which willhereinafter be explained in detail.

The use and function of the structure above described is as follows:after the opening A has been made in the ice layer B, the boot 1 isinserted into the opening A with the enlarged open upper end 7 upwardly,whereby to cause the boot sections 2 and 3 to move to their extendedpositions under the action of gravity. Supporting legs 4 are caused toengage the upper surface 7 of the ice B immediately surrounding theopening A and the days fishing is accomplished through the boot 1. Aftercompletion of the given days fishing, the crosshead 8, and the jackshaft 10 carried thereby, is placed into the position of Fig. 1, withthe lifting plates 18 lying within the thickness of the ice layer B. Indue course an ice plug 19 will form within the boot 1 during theinterval between fishing periods. This plug 19 may be readily removedfrom the boot 1, without removal of the boot 1 from the opening A,merely by causing the trunnions 11 to enter the opening 17 defined bythe hook-acting forks 16 of the cam lifter 14, and thereafter rockingthe handle 15 clockwise. It will be noted that the hook-acting forks 16exert pressure upon the upper surface 13 of the crosshead 8 in raisingthe jack shaft 10. It will also be noted that one or more of the liftingplates 18 become imbedded in the ice plug 19 and hence greatlyfacilitate breaking loose of the plug 19 from the boot 1. After the plug19 has been broken loose from the boot 1, same may be removed entirelyfrom the boot 1 by lifting upwardly on the crosshead 8, one hand of theoperator being placed on each side of the jack shaft 10.

In the modified structure of Fig. 3, the lower end portion of the uppersection 2 is rolled inwardly upon itself to provide a head 20, whereasthe upper end portion of the lower section 3 is rolled outwardly uponitself to provide a head 21. Engagement of the beads 20, 21 obviouslypositively limits the extensible movements of these sections.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while Ihave disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be specificallyunderstood that same is capable of considerable modification withoutdeparture from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described a frusto-conical tubular boot,radially projecting supporting means adjacent the enlarged upper end ofsaid boot, a crosshead adapted to be supported over the open top of saidboot, a jack shaft having its upper end working freely through anaperture in the intermediate portion of said crosshead, a lifting platecarried by said jack shaft belowthe level of said supporting means, andjack means associated with the upper end of said jack shaft overlyingsaid crosshead.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further cornbination with meanslimiting downward movements of said jack shaft with respect to saidcrosshead.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said means limiting saiddownward movements of said jack shaft with respect to said crossheadcomprises an enlarged head, and in which said jack means comprises apair of trunnions projecting horizontally outwardly one each fromopposite sides of said head in overlying relationship to said crosshead,and a handle equipped hookshaped cam lifter adapted to detachablyreceive said trunnions.

4. In a device of the class described a tubular boot comprising a pairof telescoping frusto-conical sections,

circumferentially spaced radially projecting supporting arms carried bythe enlarged upper end portion of the upper section, a crosshead adaptedto be supported over the open top of said upper section, a jack shafthaving its upper end working freely through an aperture in theintermediate portion of said crosshead, a plurality of axially spacedlifting plates carried by said jack shaft below the level of saidsupporting means and above the level of the restricted lower end of saidboot when said sections are in their extended positions, an enlargedhead on the upper end of said jack shaft limiting downward movementsthereof with respect to said crosshead, a pair of trunnions projectingone each from opposite sides of said enlarged head in overlying spacedrelationship to said crosshead, and a bifurcated hook-shaped cam lifteradapted to receive said trunnions therein and to elevate said jack withrespect to said crosshead and boot sections.

No references cited.

